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Applying for student finance - passwords and IDs
Student finance passwords and IDs help keep your information secure, whether you apply on paper or online.
Student finance application passwords and IDs
When you apply for student finance, whether online or on paper, you will be issued with:
- a unique identity number (your 'ART ID')
- a password and secret answer
Student finance IDs
What is an ART ID?
Your ART ID is an eleven-digit number that is used to uniquely identify your personal student finance account.
You will need it every time you login to your online account or contact Student Finance Direct by phone.
How do you get an ART ID?
You get an ART ID when you apply for a student loan or grant for the first time.
- if you apply online, you get your ART ID when you first register your details
- if you submit a paper application, you will be sent your ART ID by post
What happens if you lose your ART ID?
Your ART ID is printed on all correspondence relating to your student finance application.
If you know your password and secret answer, but do not have your ART ID, you can view your ART ID online by clicking on ' Forgotten your details?' when you log in to your student finance account.
Passwords and secret answers
Your password and secret answer will help identify you whenever you access information about your student finance account, either online or by phone.
Getting a password and secret answer
If you register or apply for student finance online, you will be asked to choose your own password and secret answer.
If you apply for student finance on paper, a password and secret answer will be automatically generated and sent to you. When you login to your online student finance account for the first time you will be prompted to change your password and secret answer to something that is more memorable.
Your password must have a minimum of eight and a maximum of 16 characters, and at least one of these must be a digit (0 - 9).
Changing your password and secret answer
You can change your Password and Secret Answer at any time from your online account.
Follow the below link for more information.
If you forget your password and secret answer
If you have forgotten your password or secret answer, but have your ART ID, you can have new security details sent to your e-mail address by clicking on 'Forgotten your details?' from the login page of your student finance account.
If you do not have your ART ID or security details, you can receive them by contacting Student Finance Direct.
You will be asked to change your password and secret answer to something more memorable the first time you access your online account with your new details.
Additional links
Student finance online services
Not from England?
Useful contacts
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